Tammy Baldwin among Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation

MANITOWOC - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, is one of five recipients of Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation awards that will be distributed at a Lake Michigan Day event Aug. 11 at Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

Lake Michigan Stakeholders, which sponsors the awards, said the effort seeks to recognize individuals and businesses for projects and programs that protect and enhance the lands and waters impacting Lake Michigan.

LMS said in a press release that Baldwin is receiving the honorary champion award as policy maker for her "extensive and ongoing efforts to protect the Great Lakes along with many public policies and funding vital to the entire region."

Cathy Pabich(Photo: Provided)

The press release cited Baldwin's efforts to support full funding of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Water Resources Development Act, the bi-partisan Digital Coastal Act to help shoreline communities prepare for storms and fluctuating water levels, and the writing of the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act.

Steve and Andrea DeBaker, Trout Springs Winery(Photo: Provided)

Other recipients include the following:

Wendy Lutzke of Manitowoc was selected for her excellence in spreading Great Lakes awareness with thousands of students through the annual Watershed Ambassadors Camp and many other initiatives as a professional educator at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and in elementary classrooms. She and co-leader Kim Kettner formed the Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed, launching annual river and bi-annual beach cleanups, adopting Lower Schuette Park, offering educational seminars and river paddling experiences, and supporting city beach improvement projects.

Cathy Pabich of Algoma organized brainstorming and strategic planning meetings with diverse area stakeholders to form the Friends of Crescent Beach. She has advocated for improving beach health with all levels of government, educated local residents, launching cleanups, maintenance and interactive community events. Her group was awarded the Algoma Utilities/WPPI economic development grant and named a community "Bright Spot" by the Live Algoma health initiative in 2016. Cathy serves on the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership’s board of directors, as steering committee coordinator for her local friend group, on the Bird City Algoma Committee and two other City of Algoma committees.

Trout Springs Winery, Greenleaf, was named this year’s business champion. Owned by Steve and Andrea DeBaker, TSW is a division of Branch River Farms, Wisconsin’s only licensed private fish hatchery, plant nursery and winery under one roof. Steve, full-time electrician and self-taught entrepreneur, transformed their 5-acre horse pasture into a vineyard from 1995 to 2005, continuing to refine and expand operations ever since. Their many energy-saving and energy-producing systems have reduced their carbon emissions by 68 percent. TSW was granted Green Masters Program Certification from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council in 2016. He spearheaded efforts to establish the Wisconsin Ledge American Viticultural Area in 2012 with help from Eric Fowle of the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. This AVA covers 3,800 square miles in northeast and east central Wisconsin along the Niagara escarpment.

The Wisconsin Clean Marina Program, part of the Wisconsin Marine Association, is the 2017 organization champion, providing guidance, training and education to 21 marinas and 14 pledged to "keep Wisconsin’s waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients and debris…," collectively working toward best management practices. They recognize how minimizing pollution helps protect resources essential to their livelihoods — clean air, water and healthy fish and wildlife. General Manager Michelle Shrider of Washburn serves as the organization’s chairman, with Jon Kukuk of Marinette, owner and operator of Nestegg Marine, as co-chairman.

Michelle Shrider(Photo: Provided)

Jon Kukuk(Photo: Provided)

Cameron Davis, the Obama administration’s liaison to Congress on Great Lakes issues, will be featured at the Aug. 11 Lake Michigan Day event, which will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is due by July 28.